31 minutes ago, Honey Badger said:

I went to that game I know they were up four at the half. I don't know why I'm so set on that EJ had 18 at the half. 

I was there as well. He had an opening dunk to break the school record and then just one more bucket and maybe a free throw by the end of the 2nd quarter.

9 minutes ago, Honey Badger said:

Maybe I am not so crazy, because I feel the same exact way. I want to see it designed for this man child to dominate like he is capable of but it's like their trying to hide it rather than embrace it.

This championship game will either be a make or break. Either he has it in him and will completely take over the game, or he just simply doesn't have the willpower to do so. I can't think of a much better motivator than 32 minutes of hardnose basketball to play at Rupp Arena. 

For example, he did this against Ryle, but only for a few minutes. There was a quick like 7 or 9 points stretch in the third quarter that helped decide the game, but why is it not utilized more often???

2 minutes ago, Adrian Woj Burner said:

This championship game will either be a make or break. Either he has it in him and will completely take over the game, or he just simply doesn't have the willpower to do so. I can't think of a much better motivator than 32 minutes of hardnose basketball to play at Rupp Arena. 

For example, he did this against Ryle, but only for a few minutes. There was a quick like 7 or 9 points stretch in the third quarter that helped decide the game, but why is it not utilized more often???

You said it perfectly, if a trip to Rupp can't bring it out for a full game then I don't know what will because his team is going to need it to get past Cooper. Definitely see the pieces of it but I want the whole pie!

E.J. Walker is a man among men in this high school game. Saw him last night cruise by a defender with what looked like very little effort spent, and got an easy and-1. Why this is not done every possession, I do not understand. The tip in was great and all, but how does the possible last play of your season not consist of EJ getting the last shot? The play wasn't for him whatsoever? Makes no sense to me. Many times I thought he could have helped out down low to protect the rim, and avoided it. Maybe for foul trouble reasons, who knows. 

 

Anyways, he's a great player, and has a chance to succeed at South Carolina where he will be turned into a wing. If he can become a knockdown 3-pt shooter, he has a shot to be REAL good. 

 

I got Lloyd in the finals over Cooper. 

2 minutes ago, LLS10 said:

If he can become a knockdown 3-pt shooter, he has a shot to be REAL good. 

He has been knocking 3's down at a high clip in every game I have watched him play.

3 minutes ago, LLS10 said:

If he can become a knockdown 3-pt shooter, he has a shot to be REAL good. 

Doesn't shoot a ton of them but usually shoots over 50%

1 minute ago, Honey Badger said:

He has been knocking 3's down at a high clip in every game I have watched him play.

46.4% on 86 attempts. STELLAR percentage, but he will need to be much more of a presence on the perimeter at the next level. 

27 minutes ago, LLS10 said:

Saw him last night cruise by a defender with what looked like very little effort spent, and got an easy and-1.

He makes it look effortless everytime he does it. He can grab rebounds and go coast to coast with no issues and it's like everyone just gets out of his way. I want to see the EJ that dominated Cov Cath earlier this year. I thought that was going to be an every night occurrence and didn't really see a whole game like that again. That's why I think he or Coach Walker has an issue with the "selfish" title but man who in the right mind wouldn't be "selfish" with that skillset. Even when he doesn't score out of the high post or the block if he touches the ball there he gets an assist almost everytime. The offense has to be force fed through him. 

8 minutes ago, Adrian Woj Burner said:

46.4% on 86 attempts. STELLAR percentage, but he will need to be much more of a presence on the perimeter at the next level. 

Agreed, especially considering most of those 86 attempts are only taken when he is wide open on the perimeter. 

2 minutes ago, Honey Badger said:

The offense has to be force fed through him. 

This is the only sentence needed in this whole thread lol. 

3 minutes ago, Honey Badger said:

He makes it look effortless everytime he does it. He can grab rebounds and go coast to coast with no issues and it's like everyone just gets out of his way. I want to see the EJ that dominated Cov Cath earlier this. I thought that was going to be an every night occurrence and didn't really see a whole game like that again. That's why I think he or Coach Walker has an issue with the "selfish" title but man who in the right mind wouldn't be "selfish" with that skillset. Even when he doesn't score out of the high post or the block if he touches the ball there he gets an assist almost everytime. The offense has to be force fed through him. 

There were multiple CRUCIAL possessions down the stretch last night that he did not touch the ball. I am curious if this was by design or if he was just not simply making himself available. It is very simple... if EJ is on my team he better have a hand on the ball ever possession in the fourth quarter or the person that didn't give it to him is coming out. 

As you said before, there are very few times that he does not either score the ball or get an easy assist. It would be foolish for him not to touch the ball. 

11 minutes ago, Adrian Woj Burner said:

46.4% on 86 attempts. STELLAR percentage, but he will need to be much more of a presence on the perimeter at the next level. 

This is why I didn't have such an issue with him playing on the perimeter alot throughout the regular season and some meaningless games. I get it, if a SEC kid is playing at Lloyd or anywhere in NKY then it has to be beneficial to him and beneficial to him is him working on what he will do at the next level, which is be on the perimeter but in games where his team needs him to dominate down low for 90% of the game then I expect him to do that because he is way more than capable of it. Like it shouldn't even be a discussion.

1 minute ago, Honey Badger said:

This is why I didn't have such an issue with him playing on the perimeter alot throughout the regular season and some meaningless games. I get it, if a SEC kid is playing at Lloyd or anywhere in NKY then it has to be beneficial to him and beneficial to him is him working on what he will do at the next level, which is be on the perimeter but in games where his team needs him to dominate down low for 90% of the game then I expect him to do that because he is way more than capable of it. Like it shouldn't even be a discussion.

Games that decide your teams fate, absolutely. 

5 minutes ago, Adrian Woj Burner said:

There were multiple CRUCIAL possessions down the stretch last night that he did not touch the ball. I am curious if this was by design or if he was just not simply making himself available. It is very simple... if EJ is on my team he better have a hand on the ball ever possession in the fourth quarter or the person that didn't give it to him is coming out. 

As you said before, there are very few times that he does not either score the ball or get an easy assist. It would be foolish for him not to touch the ball. 

Exactly. I just want him to atleast touch the ball in a meaningful way every possession. Against Cov Cath there were long stretches where he went without a single touch. Maybe he should cuss the coach out to get the ball more lol ???.

17 minutes ago, LLS10 said:

Agreed, especially considering most of those 86 attempts are only taken when he is wide open on the perimeter. 

I don't think he is necessarily left wide open because the defense thinks he will miss either. I think players are hesitant to guard him out there because he can put it on the floor and get by them. So they pick their poison, let him shoot it from 24 ft or get dunked on? I seen him shoot right over the top of contested shots also. The gap on the height advantage of the shots will also be closed at the next level.